I bought one off of Amazon in maybe the $70 range and I got what I paid for. A little smaller than I would like and if you aren't careful when setting the adjustment for incline it will slip. If I did it again, I'd go more expensive.

I this is for use with free weights, safety isn't a concern.

Anonymous wrote:Will he have a spotter? Consider how and when he’ll use it.

Ours has a gym membership and lifts there. He has a punching bag at home (which o tend to use more, cheaper than therapy)

And this is the problem. We spent so much money and my son rarely had friends over to lift with. They need to spot each other. We offered and he has a sibling but he never wanted to workout with us. If you are thinking of some small free weights, that could work.

Take him to tour a couple of gyms. They will let him work out as a free trial if you call and make an appointment and say you are interested in possibly joining. If nothing else, he will get an idea of what he wants and if he wants weights in his house or if he wants to join a place.

I would only join a gym that’s month to month.

Will he have a spotter? Consider how and when he’ll use it.

Ours has a gym membership and lifts there. He has a punching bag at home (which o tend to use more, cheaper than therapy)

Start with a 3 month trial membership at a club near you, and very important, include a series of lifting lessons. They will have them. It’s key that he knows how to safely lift.

Have him check out his school’s equipment too, so he can discuss that with the instructor. He can switch to the school’s equipment after he is confident on what he is doing. Schools don’t have good instructors who will focus on one kid.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone provide a link to a particular brand?

My stuff is from Rogue. 15 years and going. Agree that it’s steep for a teen who may not be committed. Only you know the extent to which that is true.

Can someone provide a link to a particular brand?

You don't want just a flat bench--you need to be able to angle it and sit it fully upright. Flat, angled and upright are the three basic positions. It's nice if you can angle the seat as well but not necessary.

Another vote for letting your kid pick it out. Even then,
I would start very basic and build up from there.

My kid has dumbbells but mostly uses a pull-up bar for pull-ups, chin-ups, and core work vs using the weights. He gets bored with weights at home, so opts for the fun things on the bar or does pushups and other things that are apparently more entertaining. We got a very solid pull-up bar that screws into place in a doorframe. If I did it over, we'd get a standalone bar so he could do more -- but we have a small condo, not a large house!

We have a weight bench and he doesn't ever use it, but obviously everyone is different! Your kid might love it and use it every day

Anonymous wrote:Look on facebook marketplace. People get rid of barely used stuff all the time.

+1

Look on facebook marketplace. People get rid of barely used stuff all the time.

Can your husband assist? Can you ask your child to share a link to it ?
Maybe research it all online.

And if you do buy it, have him pick it out. There are so many things out there and you need to know what he wants to do. It’s expensive. You might want to see if he wants to try Planet Fitness, Pure Gym or any other cheap gym on a month by month basis instead first. Even to get an idea of what he likes to do before you buy anything.

I would think long and hard before you buy this. We gave in and did and it was barely used. He ended up later joining a gym with friends and goes to that all of the time instead.

Does he already work out? If so he might have specific ideas of what he wants

If he doesn't yet workout, I'd gift a strength class or a few sessions with a personal trainer at a gym first so he can learn good form and good habits. The trainer would have better advice on the equipment, too.

My teen son has asked for a weight bench for our basement for Christmas. Seemed easy enough, but now I'm not sure what I'm supposed to buy. I think a bench, a rack, and then what else?